Moo

For over 400 pages in MOO, we are in the hands of a master, as Smiley shares the ripple of her mind like a playful brook in sunlight flowing into ever-larger tributaries to the sea. Smiley's view is large--and, she's possessed of a sound mind that exposes international interdependence in the spheres of economics and ecology. But it's not preaching she's after. Her systems thinking is interwoven with great fun, intricate structure, and a big cast of complex characters. Smiley's got the goods on pretense, but has the heart to care about all kinds of human frailty. We close the book better-informed, wiser, and with a full-belly workout. What more could anyone ask for in a novel? --Janet Grace Riehl, author Sightlines: A Poet's Diary

For anyone who has been to college, and worked for one, this novel is a right-on comedy fest... I laughed so hard because she nailed the common uncommon characters from college life... The land grant college has a culture both interesting and entertaining that serve for the perfect setting for this novel. I'm just waiting for the movie!

I understand the criticisms leveled at this book and the book is not what I expected from the blurbs on the back. It's a wonderful book - you're not involved or drawn into the story but rather an observer leisurely watching the lives of many (yes, there are a lot of characters) people. She excels at characterization, and has a very subtle hand with the satire: never mocking but everpresent. It's a comfortable collection of stories loosely bound by the Moo U. Not much action, not much sex, just people and their quirks. Good for a slow, rainy day.

The audiotape is a delight! It made me want to go seek out the whole book and read it. B.D. Wong delightfully captures the humor with his wry tone and no-nonsense reading. And now I will have to read Jane Smiley's other books. Speaking as a former English professor, I assure you that she knows exactly what she's talking about when it comes to university life. Her characters were so real and so humorously rendered that I ended up sitting in the car to listen to the audio!

When it comes to the frustrations of university life and acadamia, Smiley hits it right on the nose! She does an incredible job of giving us the thoughts and impressions of student, faculty and staff! I thoroughly enjoyed the book, passed it along and recommended it to all my friends!